Which statement best expresses the central claim of conflict theory?

• A. Society is structured to benefit some groups at the expense of others, so social institutions often reproduce inequality and generate conflict over resources and power.
• B. Society operates like a living organism where every institution always contributes purely to stability and equilibrium, and inequality is always functional without conflict.
• C. Conflict theory holds that agreement among elites and subordinate groups is entirely voluntary and that institutional arrangements are random outcomes not related to power dynamics or structural advantage.
• D. Conflict theory posits that individual personality differences are the sole drivers of social outcomes, and institutions have no role in shaping inequality or access to resources.

Answer: (A)